The Design Process

The Design Process
July 5, 2021

So you are thinking of designing that dream home you've always wanted? The next question is, how do you get the home you've been dreaming of onto paper? Today we thought we would walk you through the process of designing your new home.

The first thing is to find an architect you like. When you do, they'll sit down and create an agreement for your home design. It will outline the scope of work, the scope of services, how fees and costs will be charged and any special service conditions.

shutterstock 230402815

Pre-design

After an initial meeting (or meetings), your architect will gather essential information such as the certificate of title, drainage plans, zoning, and town planning information. Much of this information will be in the report you get from the council. There might be some more information that the council hasn't provided, like getting a site surveyed, which your architect will get done. The pre-design step is to ensure your architect knows everything there is to know about the site so they can design something feasible from the get-go.

shutterstock 347420135

Concept Design

Now that all the I's are dotted, and T's are crossed, and your architect knows everything there is to know about your new home's site, they can begin to develop concept designs for your new home. Your concept will be influenced by the scope, budget and needs you have previously set out. Creating concept designs essentially means that your architect will make a few designs that fit your brief. This could be through drawings, floor plans, perspective sketches, and computer renderings or physical models.

The concept design stage is where your architect will develop several ideas that work with your scope. This is because your architect is likely to be thinking about more significant issues, looking for advantages of site and setting, and designing more efficiently. But ultimately, it's your home, so be clear on the ideas you like and the ideas you don't.

shutterstock 1147983062

Design Development

With a concept design you like and fits the scope you set out, your architect will begin developing those ideas and refining the design. This is one of the last opportunities to change your mind, and it not impacting things too much. Think about priorities in terms of time, quality and cost and allocate authority for final decision-making.

During the design development, you'll begin to get an understanding of how much your home costs. This is where you need to be honest about your budget and work with your architect to find solutions if need be. Once your design has been developed, your architect will apply for resource consent with the council.

shutterstock 271171484

Detailed Design

When the resource consent gets approved, you'll then enter the detailed design stage. This is where your architect will go through the contented concept and create a detailed enough plan for your construction team to follow. This detailed plan becomes the bible for your home; it shows where your electricals will be, where your windows will sit, how your slab will be poured and how the roof will be angled. This detailed design is what every contractor and sub-contractor will refer to when they begin working on your home.

The detailed plan will include instructions for small yet thoughtful details, materials, components, systems and finishes that will ultimately come together to create your new home. Because your architect is at the centre of your home design, they are best positioned to understand the relevant codes and standards and articulate to the Building Consent Authority and your project's particulars.

shutterstock 740754769

When you choose to design and build your dream home with 3C Homes, you will work with our team of top-notch architects to ensure your home is exactly how you dreamed it would be. If you think you're ready to design and build your dream home with 3C Homes, get in touch with us via our contact us page.